* Call (916) 472-0914 to gain access to view “DENDRO” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday

Description: DENDRO is a lightweight, horizontally-suspended ring-shaped sculpture originally conceived in 2017 during an artist residency hosted by thelockup.org.au in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. DENDRO’s namesake ‘relating to trees’ refers to it being originally suspended around a tree and expanding upon the physiology and concept of ‘tree rings’ or ‘dendrochronology’. On its own, DENDRO invites passers-by to look up while framing views of what is both above and below it, making it an effective and versatile place-making element. Despite having a simple overall ring/halo shape, DENDRO has a complex geometric assembly of many individual parts and shapes, akin to a bird nest. The moiré patterns it creates as well as their resulting shadows below, spark further curiosity and invite closer visual exploration and examination both of the sculpture itself and re-examination of the surroundings that it frames.

About the Artist: Dan Tran is a Sacramento-based artist specializing in horticultural trellis sculptures that support wildlife biodiversity and community resilience while exploring the infinite possibilities of modular geometry. His sculpture practice emerged from his work as a public servant, greywater irrigation specialist, and designer, enabling him to interweave public art with public policy and service. Inspired by biologist Tim Wong’s conservation work with the California pipevine swallowtail butterfly, Tran began creating an ecological network of native pipevine trellis sculptures in 2016, beginning at Southside Park with support from a City of Sacramento grant. Since then, he’s collaborated with various public and private partners to install 6 unique sculptures across Northern California, completed his MFA+MS degrees, and began teaching art+design. Rather than represent or mimic any particular forms of life, every sculpture takes on elemental, geometric forms that respond to site conditions and are meant to ambiguate distinctions between ‘animal, vegetable, mineral and other’ which facilitate more diverse readings and experiences by the public. This ambiguity underscores his belief that civic and ecological diversity foster more resilient ecosystems and communities. Like DENDRO, Tran’s first sculptures were small mobiles suspended throughout Midtown Sacramento’s urban tree canopy.

DENDRO is located at The Press at Midtown Quarter Apartments (1714 21st Street) and is sponsored by Oakmont Properties.